Visible records device



5 A. M. MARTIN 12,326,241

fiver-a ar Aug. 10, 1943. AM. MARTIN VISIBLE RECORDS DEVICE Filed March10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Au 10,1943. A M MARTIN 2,326,241

7 VISIBLE RECORDS DEVICE Filed March 10, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 3 J4 J6 J5I i Q L/C w v Q Patented Aug. 10, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'VISIBLE RECORDS DEVICE Alfred M. Martin, Park Rid e, 111. ApplicationMarch 10, 1941, Serial No. 382,499

I 4 (Cl. 129-16) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the visible records devices as used in officesand the like for accounting, billing and other informative data to bekept on loose leaves or cards, all of which I have referred to generallyas leaves, and in which the leaves have an individual place in echelonfor visibility and are at the same time readily removable andreplaceable for purposes of machine posting, for example. In my PatentNo. 1,469,798 I disclosed a filing device in which a plurality of seriesof loose leaves conveniently made of sheet metal having sections orstalls defined by division strips II and end wings I 2 for positioning,in this case, six I may be opened while the rack is full to disclose oneof the series of loose leaves such as l5, one

of which leaves may be IS. The rack l0 may be mounted, for example, ason a truck I l by which it may be rolled to a convenient posimight be soarranged in echelon on transversely running guides, the leaves beingnotched along the bottom for engagement with the guides and withprovision for indicating the absence of a leaf from the series and alsoplate-like supports against which the leaves might lean, the platelikesupports serving also as partitions between the series .of leaves andhaving thickened edges providing spacing means between the partitions toinsure room for the leaves.

In the present invention I have disclosed an improved form of partitionand means for retaining it in the file, and have also disclosed a.plurality of such files housed together in amultiple reference rack on atable, for example, which may be mounted on wheels so as to be readilyrolled alongside a posting typewriter. Moreover, in accordance with thepresent invention, the files may be removed from the rack and haveprovision for individual stability.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple reference rack inaccordance with my present invention, adapted for holding six files, twoof which are absent from the rack;

Figure 1a shows an illustrative loose leaf for use with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the files shown inFig. 1, and showing means tion;

It willbe understood that each of the individual files l3 mayaccommodate a selectedgroup of accounts, for example, and that any oneof the files may be removed from the rack Ill and-may be set up as asingle unit,'for example, as shown in Fig. 2. The individual fileconsists as shown of a normally horizontal shallow holder I8conveniently formed of sheet metal and covered on its bottom with fabricor the like as at E9 superposed on a facing strip of wood l9a secured asby tacks i9b to the holder Hi to 1 improve the appearance and also toprevent scratching of the desk or the like upon which the file may beset. Running cross-wise, that .is, the short direction of the holderiii, are a series of guide bars 20 (Fig. 4) in the form of for indexingpurposes as was described in my for effecting individual stability ofthe file in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2a is a separated view of one of the partition-supportsconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the file of Fig. 2

somewhat enlarged;

Figure 3a is a perspective view of a key block used with my invention;and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in thedrawings, the rack l0 may be angle irons welded as at 2! to the innerbottom surface of the holder l8, and spaced apart lengthwise of theholder I8 regularly toprovide guide bars for engaging notches 22 (Figs.1a and 4) on the loose leaves Hi to arrange these leaves in a series ISin echelon, as best shown in Fig. 2, with a margin of each leaf in theseries visible Patent No. 1,469,798.

Along each long side of the holder i 8 is a member which may be calleda. cover 23 and which, as best shown in Fig, 3, may comprise a heavyfibre board 24 to the inner lower margin of which is riveted as at 25 ahinge plate 26 bent to form the hinge sleeve 21 through which passes thehinge pin 28. As will be seen from Fig. 4, the hinge sleeve 21 is formedin sections spaced apart sufficiently to miss the guide bars 20, and

the hinge pin 28 is inserted in perforations 2812 (Fig. 2) and passesthrough appropriate registering perforations in the guide bars 20' aswell as through the hinge sleeve 21, being suitablyanchored at each endof the holder l8 to retain the covers 23 in hinged relation thereto.

- Each of the covers 23, in accordance with the present invention,carries a self acting prop 29 to support the file when it is standingalone and is opened, as shown in Fig. '2, and prevent its capsizing.Desirably the props 29 are staggered at opposite ends of the covers 23so that the prop of one file will not interfere with the prop of anadjacent file. The prop 29 comprises, as here shown, a metal invertedloop 39, each end of which is hinged as by a hinge lug 3| (Fig. 3) onthe member 30 received in holes 32 in brackets 33 suitably secured tothe exterior face of the cover 23. At the lower end of the brackets 33is hinged as by hinge pin 34 a gravity piece 35 which is here shown as ametal plate and which has at its outer end a traveling rotatable rod 36,the ends of which ride in the inwardly facing channels 30a of the loopmember 36. When the cover is inclined outwardly the weighted gravitypiece 35 will also fall outwardly on its hinge 34 and its traveling rod36 will slide down the loop 30 forcing this outwardly to a'bracingposition as shown in the drawings. The gravity piece 35 by reason of itsrelatively large size and relative weight constitutes a tripping meansas well as an extension member. The channel 30a may be pinched as at302) to limit downward movement of the antifriction rod 36 and maintainthe gravity piece 35 in extended or horizontal position until it ismanually raised. As here shown. the brackets 33 extend downwardlybetween the hinges 3| and 34 and between the metal plate 35 and theinverted loop 30, so that the plate is received between the two brackets33 when the plate is folded parallel with the cover, the brackets beingcut away in somewhat V-shape intermediate their lengths to receive thetraveling rod 36 to conserve space. A strip 3! which may be of wood orthe like along the outer top edge of the cover protects the prop 29, andthe cover edge is further protected by a I metal binding 38.

My improved form of partition-support is shown at 39 and, as best shownin Fig. 4, may comprise a fibre plate 46 of approximately the same areaas the covers 23 and having sections 4| along its lower edge which fitin between the guide bars 20, the members 39 spanning the guide bars.Along its top I desirably widen the partition-support transversely as bya wood strip 42 held thereto in this instance by the metal binding 43which desirably finishes not only the top edge of the partition-supportbut also the two ends, and this binding is continued downwardly at eachend to desirably terminate in the cylindrical metal trunnions 44 and 45cooperatively extending in the same direction and not in oppositedirections. It will be understood from the drawings that these trunnionsare received in transverse channels 46 and 41, respectively, at each endof the holder l8, extending parallel with the guide bars 20 and areslidable therealong in contact one with another. These channels areadvantageously floored by wood strips 48 and 49 respectively, and eachof the channels 46 and 41 has an overhanging wall under which thetrunnions 44 and 45 are adapted to engage to retain the partitionsupport in the holder. At one end (left side of Fig. 4) the channel 46has the overhanging wall 59 formed by turning inwardly the outer endwall of the holder, spaced above the floor strip 48 and extendingpartially thereover just sufliciently to receive one end of the trunnion44 on the strip and beneath the overhanging wall 56 in rotatable contacttherewith. At the other end (right-hand end of Fig. 4) an overhangingwall 5| is provided by an angle member similarly located with respect tothe wood strip 49 and conveniently welded as at 52 to one of the guidebars 20. When the partitionsupport 39 is inserted in the holder it isplaced with its trunnions in the channels, which are wide enough to oneside of the overhanging walls for this purpose and then moved to theleft in Fig. 4 to engage the trunnions 44 and under the overhangingwalls and 5|, and when all'of the partition-supports have been so,located they are held from moving to the right in Fig. 4 by a key" block53 which, filling as it does the space between the ends of thepartition-supports and the end wall 54 of the holder, prevents thepartition-supports from being removed from the holder until this keyblock is first removed. The

block 53 may have an inclined face 55 which may have a space for a nameplate 56 signifying the character of the contents of the particularfile. The thickness vertically of the file of the wood strips 48--49 maybe varied to suit trunnions of different diameters, thus rendering thedevice further adaptable.

The widened tops of the partition-supports, as already described,'readily provide for vertical holes 51 in which index tabs 58 may havethe legs of their frames inserted as at 59 (Fig. 4) there being enoughof these holes spaced along the top so that these tabs may beselectively located to accomplish their function as staggeredalphabetical index tabs as here shown, or for other subject designationas desired.

.Another result of providing the strip 42 to widen the top of thepartition-support is that these strips provide an overhang which, asbest shown in Fig. 3, thus space the partition-supports apart to allowroom for the series of loose leaves l5 between each pair ofpartition-supports, and protect the upper edges of these loose leaveswhich might otherwise be susceptible to exposure and deformation. Theoverhangs of the strips 42 prevent the leaves from working out, eventhough they are not bound in.

On their opposite face the partition-supports advantageously arelongitudinally ribbed at their ends as at 60 to hold the end leavesslightly away from the face of the partition-support where the bers ofvariegated colors, if desired, as is well series of leaves is thin, andthus make it easier to grasp the leaves when desired. In the middle ofthe series where the number of leaves overlapping is greatest, the rib60 may be discontinued.

It will be understood that each file l3 may be closed entirely somewhatlike a book with its cover 23 standing straight up as shown at theleft-hand side of Fig. 3. When this is done, the gravity member 35 maybe raised to lie flat against the cover with the loop 30 also lyingagainst the cover. This self acting prop 29 will remain in this inactiveposition until the cover is again caused to lean outwardly as shown atthe right-hand side of Fig. 3, whereupon the prop will again come intoplay as shown, by the loop 30 reaching outwardly urged and held by thegravity member 35.

The holes 51 also readily lend themselves to signal peg system or othershort projecting memknown in the art. For example, if in one group thereis an account whose credit bears particular watching a peg of red colorsuch as |0| may be inserted in one of the holes 51 in thepartitionsupport for that group; if in the same or another group thereis another account which deserves particular attention for some otherreason, a green peg I92, for example, might be inserted leaves on theguide bars.

disclose a particular series of leaves there-is desirably practically nosliding movement of the This substantial absence of any sliding movementminimizes materially wear on the bottom notched edges of the looseleaves.

age over a course of time by constant usage if the partition supportswere pivoted a considerable distance relatively below the upper edges ofthe guide bars 20, the loose leaves being then forced backwards andforwards on the guide bars to accommodate the arc of swing of thepartition supports. This undesirable arc of swing has been practicallyeliminated by the construction here disclosed. I

As clearly shown in the drawings, the over hangs 42 are advantageouslyat one side only of the partition supports, and at the rear side thereofin each case, looking at the file in its position in Fig. 2 which is theposition commonly occupied by the file with respect to the user when thefile is in use. Thus, the overhang of the partition support for theseries of leaves [5, for example, is on the opposite side'of thepartition support from this particular series of leaves and thus doesnotinterfere with ready manual engagement by the user of an upper edge ofone or more of the leaves I8. In other words, the user does not have todig under the overhang to grasp a leaf. At the same time, the overhangprotects the series of leaves lying aginst the partition support nextrearwardly to the partition support against which the series of leavesi5 lies.

Manifestly, the invention is not limited to details of constructionshown for purposes of illustration. Furthermore, it is not essentialthat all 'features of the invention be used conjointly, as

various combinations and sub-combinations may be employed.

Subject-matter not here claimed is claimed in my co-pending divisionalapplication, Serial No. 471,549, filed January 7, 1943.

What I here claim is:

1. In a visible records device which comprises a normally horizontalbase-like-holder having a plurality of substantially parallel transversecard It will be appreciated that these would be otherwise subject toconsiderable dampinched together to limit movement of the traveling rod,the cover carrying on its face a pair of brackets to which both the loopand the plate are hinged, the brackets extending downwardly on the faceof the cover between the pla e and the loop and receiving the platetherebetweenwhen the plate is folded to lie parallelto the'cover, the.brackets being cut away to receive the traveling rod which plays in thechannels of the loop.

2. In a visible records devicewhich comprises a normally horizontalbase-like holder having a plurality of substantially parallel transversecard engaging guides, and a pair of covers hinged along each side'ofsaid holder, that improvement therein which comprises a self-acting propcarried by each cover, said prop in one position lying against the faceof said cover but being adaptedto reach outwardly therefrom when a coveris caused to lean'outwardly to support the device from capsizing, saidprop comprisingan inverted metal loophinged at its free ends to thecover and a weighted member in the form of a plate hingedly carried bythe loop and "cover below the hinge of said loop and ada ted to lieeither parallel with the cover or under the influence oi grav face apair of brackets to which the loop is hinged,

said brackets being extended downwardly toreceive the plate therebetweenwhen the plate is ried on said rack, division strips on the filesupengaging guides, and a pair of covers hinged along each side of saidholder, that improvement therein which comprises a selfacting propcarried by each cover, said prop in one position lying againstthe faceof said cover but being adapted to reach outwardly therefrom when acover is caused to lean outwardly to support the device from capsizing,said prop comprising an inverted loop having inwardly facing channelshinged to the cover and a weighted member in the form of a plate alsohinged tothe cover below the hinge of said loop and carrying a rodhaving limited free traveling engagement in the channels of said loopwhereby to cause said loop to reach limitedly outwardly when saidgravity member falls under the influence of gravity, the channel wallsof the channels of the loop being porting face of the rack providingstalls for 10- cating files on said rack readily removable therefromsaid rack having sloping end walls adapted to engage covers of tiltedadjacent files, each said file comprising a normally horizontal holderhaving transverse guide bars therein for receiving thereon notched looseleaves, and a pair of hinged covers for each holder, that improvementtherein including a weighted gravity actuated prop carried by each coverabove the division strips and adapted to straddle a strip when a coveris opened and an adjacent file is absent, whereby the 'files may beclosed or opened somewhat as a book with or without removal from saidrack while maintaining the covers intermediate between vertical andhorizontal position whether or not all of the files receivable by therack are present therein, said prop including a plate hinged to thecover at one end and free to fall at its other end under the influenceof gravity, and means including a pair of legs limiting the fallingmovement of the plate to a position extending between said legs and saidcover.

4. In a visible records device which comprises a multiple referencerack, a plurality of files carried on said rack, division strips on thefile supporting face of the rack providing stalls for 10'- cating fileson said rack readily removable therefrom, said rack having sloping endwalls adapted to engage covers of tilted adjacent files, each said filecomprising a normally horizontal holder having transverse guide barstherein for receiving thereon notched loose leaves, and a pair of hingedcovers for each holder, that improvement there-' tel-mediate betweenvertical and horizontal position whether or not all of the filesreceivable by the rack are present therein.

'5. In a visible records device which comprises 'a multiple referencerack, a plurality of files carried on said rack readily removabletherefrom, said rack having sloping end walls adapted to engage coversof tilted adjacent files, each said file comprising a normallyhorizontal holder having transverse bars therein for engaging looseleaves, and a pair of hinged covers for each holder, that improvementtherein including a weighted gravity actuated prop carried by each coverfor maintaining the covers intermediate between vertical and horizontalposition whether or not all of the files receivable by the rack arepresent therein, said props being staggered whereby the prop on one fileis spaced longitudinally of a cover with respect to the prop on a nextadjacent file to prevent interference of the props.

6. In a visible records device which comprises a normally horizontalbase-like holder having a plurality of substantially parallel transversecard engaging guides, and a pair 01' covers hinged along each side ofsaid holder, that improvement therein which comprises a self-acting propcarried by each cover, said prop in one position lying against the faceof said cover but being adapted to reach outwardly therefrom when acover is caused to lean outwardly to support the device '7. In a visiblerecords device which comprises a multiple reference rack, a plurality orfiles carried on said rack and readily removable therefrom, each fileincluding a normally horizontal base-like holder having a plurality of substan tially parallel transverse card engaging guides, and a pair ofcovers hinged along each side of said holder, that improvement thereinwhich comprises a self-acting prop carried by each cover, each propbeing retractible independently of the other prop to permit theplurality of files to be closely associated on said rack withoutinterference by said props and each prop including a rigid leg elementhingedly carried at its upper end by, the cover and adapted to liesubstantially parallel with and against the face of the cover but beingadapted also to reach outwardly therefrom when the file is removed fromsaid rack and 4 a cover is caused to lean outwardly, to support theholder from capsizlng, a tripping member'in the form of a relativelyheavy plate secured at one end to the cover and at its other endconnected to the leg element. and slidably adjustable therebetween toaccommodate retraction and extension of the leg element, anti-frictionmeans operatively associated with thetripping member and leg elementwhereby the tripping member is adapted and readily normally biased toextend between the cover and leg element below the place where the legelement is hinged to the cover to urge the leg element outwardly, andinterengaging 'means between the tripping member and legelement-limiting outward movement of the leg element with respect to thecover.

ALFRED M. MARTIN}

